Edmonton GM's offseason moves reviewed in advance of September's training camp
With the 2025 NHL offseason coming to a close, and with training camps set to begin in September, we take a look at GM Stan Bowman's changes to the Oilers' roster - and there have been many.
Stan Bowman carries a lengthy track record as an NHL general manager, filling the position in Chicago from 2009 to 2021. In that time, he won three Stanley Cups.
He's adapted the same winning formula to his position as Oilers' GM, with noticeable results.
Stan Bowman is proven at pushing teams over the finish line and keeping them in contending form
He has turned the Edmonton Oilers into a Stanley Cup contender since arriving in Edmonton in July, 2024, and continues to shape the team with the many changes he's made this summer.
Stan Bowman focused on retaining his core players by dealing with salary cap constraints, resulting in departures of veterans to make room for raises, like Evan Bouchard's salary and Leon Draisaitl's new deal, which kicks-in next year.
He signed free-agent Andrew Mangiapane to two-year contract on July 1st, and acquired prospects Ike Howard and Mathew Savoie, and continued to add youth to the line-up via new signings and draft picks.
Following are more additions to the Oilers' roster:
Carfagna from Ohio State; Josh Samanski; forward David Tomasek; Nathaniel Day to entry-level contract; Samuel Jonsson to entry-level contract; D-man Atro Leppänen; Quinn Hutson to entry-level contract; Ty Emberson to two-year extension; Alec Regula to two-year extension; Roby Jarventie to contract extension; Trent Frederic to eight-year contract extension; Noah Philp to one-year extension; Kasperi Kapanen to one-year extensiion; Evan Bouchard to four-year extension; and Curtis Lazar to one-year contract.
Following are notable subtractions from Oilers' roster:
Acquire pick from Canucks for Evander Kane; acquire pick from Bruins for Viktor Arvidsson; Connor Brown signs four-year contract with Devils; Corey Perry signs one-year contract with Kings; John Klingberg signs one-year contract with Sharks; Phil Kemp signs two-year contract with Penguins; and Jeff Skinner signs one-year contract with Sharks.
All told, the moves were many and have made the Oilers younger and more efficient moving forward, with several draft picks being added to the draft-pool.
Connor McDavid had given his reassurance that he will sign in Edmonton, when he is ready. Goaltending is perhaps the only significant position Bowman has not changed. Yet, Skinner and Pickard are more than capable of doing their jobs.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 29 | 273 ANSWERS Edmonton GM's offseason moves reviewed in advance of September's training camp Would you give GM Stan Bowman a passing grade this offseason? | ||
| yes | 97 | 35.5 % |
| no | 98 | 35.9 % |
| yes, but could have done more | 78 | 28.6 % |
| List of polls | ||